While a number of countries around the word have embraced the idea of medical cannabis, the stigma surrounding recreational use still lingers in the minds of some policy makers.

In America we have seen decisions being made across individual states but the path towards complete decriminalization is still a long and rocky journey with no clear end in sight. Across the Atlantic in Europe it is a similarly-mixed situation with individual countries exploring the best policies for their population whilst attempting to navigate the often-complex legal framework that runs alongside changes which relate to both public health policy and criminal law.

Now, it seems, some nations are ready for real change and the impact of this might just send shockwaves across the rest of the continent.At the end of 2021, Malta became the first EU nation to legalize cannabis consumption and small-scale cultivation. By allowing its residents to possess up to 7 grams on their person (and to grow up to four plants within their household), the Maltese government set out its aims to regulate the cannabis industry as a means of tackling black market supplies and reducing the impact of the criminal justice system on small-time users.

There were still rules and consequences for those who failed to abide by them but these are much less significant than they otherwise would have been.After the United Nations announced that they were reclassifying cannabis (in light of research that proved its therapeutic potential), other European nations indicated that they had interest in reviewing their own stance on the legality and availability of cannabis for recreational adult users.

Investigations began into the lucrative potential of legalization in numerous countries, with some indicating that they were keen to progress this idea sooner rather than later.In late October of this year, Germany announced to the world that it was moving forward with plans to legalize cannabis. Having initially indicated that there would be some progress in relation to this issue during the term of the current coalition government, their announcement was supported by the publication of a paper that outlined key aspects of regulation for cultivation, distribution and consumption of cannabis across Germany.

At this stage it appears that possession of up to roughly an ounce of cannabis would be permitted, along with small-scale cultivation for personal consumption, while licenses for retail premises could help to expand the job market and additional systems of taxation could be used to fund educational programs in support of this sector.Estimates indicate that Germany could gain up to 5 billion Euros annually from this move as more than 4 million individuals are believed to already consume cannabis through various channels.

This is hardly an insignificant figure and it is hoped that a move towards a regulated and licensed industry can reduce the market share of the black market to the extent that it becomes inviable to circumvent the legal routes. Moreover, Germany have announced that any current criminal investigations into situations that would not be illegal under the new legislation would be dropped with immediate effect to avoid persecution of individuals for reasons that could conflict with newly-developed laws.While this move has the potential to usher in a wave of change across the rest of Europe, some people remain

skeptical of the potential for Germany to achieve its predicted levels of success. The grey area that exists within the medical world, as a result of years of prohibition and the red-tape it places on researchers, leaves some questioning the safety of cannabis consumption. The Bavarian Health Minister expressed that they believe their fears are being trivialized in the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper. Counter-arguments explore the idea that a legal market will only cause greater issues if it attempts to be too restrictive when it comes to the quality, concentration and variety of strains that are made available.

Some people are quick to draw comparisons with the Netherlands, simply because it is well-known as the 'Cannabis Capital' of Europe, yet this is an unfair comparison to make. Amsterdam may be seen as a liberal city that welcomes visitors from around the world and allows them to indulge in their numerous vices, yet the reality of supplying the legal retail fronts of the various coffeeshops sees many people accessing cannabis via illicit means. There is no controlled system of supply that actually works for everyone (or can meet demand) leading to a strange blend of liberal perspectives and criminal profitability.

In recent years there has been much more discussion about the negative impact of canna-tourism in Amsterdam, with some people calling for the sale of cannabis to anyone other than a resident to be made illegal, but this is unlikely to come to fruition as much of the economy is reliant on the knock-on effects of people coming from all over the world to sample a few strains. Some opponents of Germany's proposals are concerned that tourists may perceive Germany as a 'soft touch' holiday destination if the plans go ahead.

Regardless of the political stances people may take, there is certainly great potential for cannabis to become a thriving industry in Germany and (eventually) across the rest of Europe. Almost 30,000 jobs could be created in response to this change in the law, with the potential for this to expand even further if the move is as successful as it should be.

At this point, nothing is set in stone and the next step is very much dependent on how the committee responds to their outlined plans. If it is decided that the plans are not aligned with key European laws then it may well be back to the drawing board. However, numerous points of contention have already been considered and positions that strike a balance have been made across the board.

From ruling out the likelihood of moving into the edible market to suggesting that there is likely to be a cap of concentration for THC and a blanket ban on advertising, it is clear that the German officials are aware of the arguments that may stand in their way and are taking pro-active steps to ease these concerns.Thankfully, this move towards potential decriminalization is rooted in considerate policies and has an over-arching aim to move towards a more-informed society that can better protect its population. Put simply, prohibition does not work and only puts people in danger of interacting with the criminal underworld while simultaneously draining billions of Euros out of the economy year upon year.

When you consider the number of people who have acknowledged that they have purchased cannabis illegally in the past 12 months stands at 4 million (a number which is likely to be an under-representation of the truth), it is easy to agree with German politicians when they say it is time for change as the current system simply "isn't working".If this proposal is successful, a draft law will be drawn up ready for the first quarter of 2023. For now, people across Europe and beyond are watching with keen interest.